Hyderabad, Oct 02: Eight unexploded claymore mines, similar to the ones that blasted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's car yesterday, were detected today highlighting the security lapses into which a rattled Andhra Pradesh government ordered a probe by its security advisor. Naidu, who suffered injuries on his chest and nose and fractured his right shoulder, was flown in to the state capital alongwith information technology minister B Gopalakrishna Reddy by a special aircraft. The Chief Minister, who stepped out of the aircraft with a hand in plaster, climbed down the ladder and straight got into a waiting car on the tarmac of the Begumpet airport to be driven home.

As investigations began into the explosions triggered by suspected people's war group naxalites, it has now emerged that a total of 17 landmines were planted near the Alipiri toll gate on the Ghat Road leading to the famous Venkateswara temple.

Police, which launched a massive manhunt for those responsible for the blasts, today recovered at least eight unexploded mines planted in a stretch of 200 metres on the second Ghat Road to the shrine. They believe the mines could have been planted months ago as thick grass have grown around them and could have resulted in a major disaster if they had been detonated.

As the powerful blasts exposed chinks in the security system and raised doubts over its efficacy, security advisor to the government, S Subrahmanyam has been asked to go into the lapses and suggest measures for "fool-proof" arrangements, officials said.
Subrahmanyam, a retired IPS officer, has since left for the site where mines exploded blasting Naidu's bullet-proof ambassador car in the foothills of the famous Venkateswara shrine.

Meanwhile, police have picked up three civil liberties activists for questioning in connection with yesterday's blasts.
N V Prasad, D V Prasad and Hari Prasad belonging to Andhra Pradesh civil liberties committee, a body often accused siding with extreme left groups, were taken to an undisclosed destination from their residence, their wives complained.

Police suspect the trio of having links with people's war group, which is suspected to be behind the blasts.
Naidu spoke to his cabinet colleagues and party leaders, who called on him at his residence, and asked them to assure the people that he was doing well.

A panel of doctors, headed by NIMS director K Subba Rao, is monitoring the chief minister's condition with mobile x-ray units being moved to his residence to conduct tests.
Information Technology Minister Reddy was admitted to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences.

TDP MLA R Rajshekhar Reddy, who was seriously injured in the blast and had slipped into coma, was responding to treatment today. Another TDP legislator Ch Krishna Murthy, who suffered injury in his eye, was taken to Apollo Hospital in Chennai.

Bureau Report